Car construction



J. A. PILCHER CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11, 1921 2 Sheets $heet 1 JOHN A. PaLcHER @w-K -Q Oct. 30, 1923.

J. A. PILCHER CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11

19?.- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mqbs auwnto'z JOHN A. PsLcHe Patented a. 30, 1923. i '1 j 1,472,135

UIH'I'ED S'I'A'I'alilS PATENT ()FFICE JOHN A. on nonnoxn, yrncInIA;

can. consrnucrron' Amman filed February l l, 152 1. seriai noruaiea To all whom itmag concern: I ing the end of the car body upon the Be it knownthat I, JOHN A. Pinornan a truck structure. This sectionis taken on a citizen of the United States, residing, at ;plane approximately co-incident with the Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke. and line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figuretisaside eleva- 6 State of Virginia, have invented certain-new: tional view, to a somewhat enlarged scale and useful Improvements in Car Construcof the portion of the car body immediately tion, of which the following is a specificaover the center of the truck. Figure 5 is tion. j [a fragmentary sectional view showing in This inventionrelates to car trucks and enlarged scale a portion of the car body at 10 has among its objects to provide improved the same point as shown in Figure 3. Figure means for supportingthe car body and for 6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion distributing the superimposed car body of the car body over the truck, the section loads among the various wheels ofthe truck. being taken on the line 66 of Figure 5. In general, the load from the car body has Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the truck 15 heretofore been applied to each of two equalizer members, and Figure 8 a side trucks at a single point, usually denoted the elevational view of the same. Figure 9 is center plate. Hence the weights upon the a transverse sectional view of the same, center plates are not subject to, change due taken on the line 99 of Figure 8. Figure to warping of the car body under abnormal. l0 isia plan view of the centerpivot contrack conditions. But vby, supporting the struction of the truck. Figure 11 is a plan load, as in the present invention, at two viewofa combined squaring arm and spring points upon each truck, one over or near :cap as used in the present embodiment of the each side frame member, much material can truck andFigure 12 an end elevational view be saved in both the car body and the truck, of the same. y 25 and the first cost thereby greatly reduced,' Referring now to these drawings, which as well as contributing to continual lower show one embodiment of the invention, the operatingcosts. But the problemof unequal truck shown hassix Wheels I, mounted in loading becomes important when acar body pairs upon; axles 2. The axles are journaled is supported at four points instead of two, in thej usual oil boxes ,3 which are secured 30 for as the trucks pass over unequal track to the side. frame members land 5 by means there is a tendency not only to: change the of. the bolts 6 and box tie bars 7 and loading upon the four supporting points 8. The side frames are outside of the wheels, but also to produce changes in wheel loadthereby making the distance from the side ings within each of the trucks. c .of the car 'into the side frames relatively 35 It is to provide means for overcomingboth short. This is of importance in the present of these difiiculties that the present inven method oi' support-ing and carrying the car tion is directed and it is particularly inbodyinasmuch as the momentsin the body tended for use in connection with cars havbolster areproportionally reduced. It will ing twelve or more wheels. be noted that each side frame section 24 ear 40 With the foregoing general ideas in view ries one end oil box and one middle oil the invention consists of the formation, combox, the other frame section 5 carrying the bination and arrangementof various eleother end oil box. The two frame sections ments coordinated to produce improvements are hinged togetherfor vertical movement generally in thisart. a at 9, immediately over the middle oil boxes. 45 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View The frame sections at the two sides of the -of a six wheel truck constructed in accord truck are similar in this respect. This is ance with the principles of the presentinthe well known Lewis truck construction. vention. Figure 2 is a side elevational view Each of the four frame sections has the of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse vercustomary bolster window opening 10 with 50 tical section taken through the center of the load-carrying springs 11 positioned within truck and showing the manner of supportthis opening and supported directly upon openings in the side frame sections are is bifurcated at its ends, as at 1 1, to providep of the truck.

the side frame sections. The springs are so located along the frame sections as to put an equal load upon each oil box on a side of the truck when equal loads are applied to the two groups of springs along that side Resting upon the top of the springs 11 and guided for slidable movement in the window spring caps 12 which also serve, with certain later described cross members, wasguides, or means for holding the side frames in correct positions both laterally and longitudinally of the truck and for taking care of lateral and longitudinal forces' The load of the car body is applied to the spring caps 12 by means of the central equal izer beams 13.- There is one of these equalizers at each side of the truck, extending from one spring ca% to the other at that side of the truck. 13 is preferably cast in a single piece but same are provided with pierced flanges 15 and16 so that the equalizers may be rigidly attached to the spring caps as bymeans of the rivets 17 It will thus be seen that the load is all carried on line With'the side frames of the truck, none of it being applied at the center. I 1

The four spring caps 12 of each truck are joined together and held in constant relationship transversely and longitudinally ofthe truck'by means of a frame work of structural steel consisting of a pair of direct cross members 18 and a set of X-members 19, these together with the central pivot cast- 7 ing 20 constituting a frame of platform construction. The X-members are joinedtogether at the center of the truck by means of the pivot casting 20, this latter having a verticalopening 21 for co-operation with a trunnion 22 which depends from the car body. A horizontally arranged bolt or rod 23 may be applied through'these members to prevent separation of the truckand' body in the case ofa derailment.

It will be understood that the casting 20, together with the. frame work, does n'ot'receive the vertical load of the body at the centerof the truck. The trunnion or pivot is provided and arranged for swiveling and guiding'purposes and to hold the truck and body together against horizontal displacement. The lateral forces from the body are transmitted to the truck largely through ach of the equalizers the spring caps and that carries the center 7 pivot is made exceedingly ,stifijand rigid. In 7 the horizontal plane, however, it is desired that the wheels may have racticallyunre-J stricted verticalplay with respect to each other so asto follow any conditions of track;

surface without change of wheel loadsand accordingly :without hindrance from this frame work. It is accordingly made exceed ingly flexible in this p1ane.-' By this means no change in the loads upon the'groups of springs 11 and also without setting up'dis astrous stresses in the various members of the frame work.

- The car body load is applied to the 'equalizer beams 13 at the center of the latter and directly over the side frames of the truck by means of the conical rollers orrockers 24. A steel bearing-plate 25 is inserted beneath each rockerbecause of the concentrarockers in position transversely of the truck upon the equalizers. The lower faces of the it is allowed to warp itself "with practically 7 tion of weight and flanges 26 are provided 7 on the ends of the roCkersto overlie the sides of theequalizers'in order to keep the.

the topsurfaces of the rockersand the seatsfor the same upon the car bodyare inclined.

By this means the necessary swiveling ac tion of the truck beneath the carbody is obtained and at the same time'all spreading tendencies from the conical rollers are kept,

body where they are more easily taken care of. The rockers are held against the spreading action'by means'of the transverse tie rod which connects the rockers of each truck. This tie rod is denoted 27 in the drawings.

the two rockers 24 of each truck,' thereby being supported at four points. The ordi nary open top car has enough flexibility to admit of its being supported at four'suc-h points, as the bodywill warpitself enough out ofthe truck and are restrictedto the r V The car body rests upon the top surfaces'of" to prevent any disastrous changes in'load upon the'roekers. I p

7 The car body is preferably formed in a special manner for use'with this method'of load carrying. 'In the absence of a center bearing. plate the bodyfbolster 28 maybe made of less strength and weight than usual and is preferably formed of a steel plate bent into trough shape and extending up into the cavity of the car. Thecavityof the trough is open from beneath the car and the rockers .24: and tie rod 27 are'disposed within this space as otherwise it would be difiicult toprovide the necessary space for these members. Upper bearing castings 29 are secured to the bolster 28 immediately over the rockers and these transmit the loads from the bolster to the rockers, steel bearing plates 37 being applied between the cast 3 gether with the rockers will be lifted with the car body when untrucking. V

The holes'31 are also serviceable for the insertion of crane hooks when it is desired to lift the car.

The car has the customary center sills 32 which receive the draft forces. The casting 33, which carries the body pivot 22, is secured between the centersill channels 82.

Brace plates 34: extend'upward from the bolster 28 to stiffen and brace the car sides 35.

I have thus provided an improved method of carrying the Weight of a car in a satisfactory manner and have provided a truck and car body arrangement of lower first cost, less weight, and great economy of operation. 'I he load from the car sides is not carried in to the usual center plate by the body bolster and then back to the side frames of the truck by means of a truck bolster, but is transferred from the body of the car to the truck side frames directly on line with the latter. By eliminating many of the customary load-carrying parts and reducing the size of others, the construction is greatly simplified and more of the space about the truck is made available for such accessories as the brakes.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a cartruck having a plurality of wheels and axles, side members extending between the axles, a centrally arranged equalizer member associated with the side members and supported thereby, a load receivin seat u on each e ualizer member and a rotatable load transferring member operable upon the said seat.

2. In a car truck having more than two axles, each with the customary wheels mount-- ed thereupon, side members extending between the axles, an equalizer member on each side associated with each side member and supported. thereupon, the same being arranged to receive car body loads at a single central point and transferthe same to the side members, and springs interposed between the ends of the equalizer members and the side members.

3. In a car truck having a plurality of wheels and axles, sectional side members connecting the axles, the sections of each memberbeing articulated with respect to each other, an equalizer member spanning between adjacent side member sections and supported thereupon, and a car body supporting seat upon each equalizer member.

4. In a car truck having a plurality of wheels and axles, axle-connecting members along each side of the truck, a plurality of load-applying seats associated in yieldable fashion with each of the said axle-connecting members, said seats being arranged to apply loads from the car body to the axle-connecting members, and a frame work connecting the said load-applying seats, and means for transferring loads from the car body to the said load-applying seats independently of the said frame work.

5. In a car truck having a plurality of wheels and axles, side members arranged to connect the axles and to transfer loads thereto, means for applying car body loads to each side member at a plurality of points, and spring supported means connecting the side members, the same being arranged to hold them in substantial alignment longitudinally and laterally of the truck, but to permit of their relative displacement vertically, independently of the spring action.

6. Ina car truck having a plurality of wheels and axles, side members arranged to connect the axles and to transfer loads thereto, a platform member connecting the side members, the same being constructed in rigid fashion and to withstand heavy thrusts in the horizontal plane and to offer no substantial resistance against fiexure in the vertical planes.

7. In a car truck having a plurality of wheels and axles, a two-part, jointed side frame along each side of the truck, loadreceiving seats upon each part of each side frame, springs upon the load-receiving seats, equalizers resting at their ends upon the springs, and seats upon the equalizers arranged to receive loads from the car body.

8. In car construction, a car body, a supporting truck, and load-transferring members interposed therebetween, the said body having a transversely arranged bolster member with a cavity in its lower face, the said load-transferring members being disposed within the said cavity.

9. In a car truck having more than two axles, each with the customary wheels mount ed thereupon, side members at opposite sides of the truck arranged to transfer loads to the axles, means for applying car body loads to the side members, springs interposed be tween the car body and the axles, and loadequalizing means associated therewith, the same being arranged to cushion the load of the car body before the same is applied to the axles and also to equalize it thereamong,

and 21V member of platform construction exrelative displacement vertically without metending from the side member at one side of terially affecting the equalizing action of the the truck to the one at the opposite side said springs and load-equalizing means. thereof, the same being afiixed to the side In testimony whereof I affix my Signet- 5 members and arranged to hold them in subture. 7 1

stantial alignment longitudinally and trans- V versely of the truck, but to permit of their J OHN A. PILCHER. 

